Apartment complex claims I owe them money.

[ljuarez12]

Three years ago, prior to leaving to college, I was searching for an
apartment. In the meantime I was also waiting for acceptance letters. I was
going to rent an apartment with my cousin and a friend. I received an
acceptance letter, decided not to rent then moved to Louisiana.

I recently returned to Texas and tried to rent an apartment. After I placed
my deposit of $300 my application was denied. Apparently, I have an
outstanding balance with the apartment complex I was going to rent at with
my cousin and friend. When I went to discuss this balance with the leasing
agent, I indicated and showed documents that I was not living in Texas
during the dates I owe for. Also, I found out that I was on the lease due to
a signature that was not mine. It seems that my cousin forged my signature.
He was probably not able to rent the apartment without my credit. I also
showed the leasing agent that the signatures did not match. She indicated
that the leasing agent who accepted this application was fired for allowing
such activities but indicated that I still owed the money, $1000 +.

Now, I cannot rent an apartment and I have lost my deposit as well as owing
over $1000 to an apartment complex where I did not live. Please advise, I
don\'t know what I can do to get this issue resolved.

Thanks

[OHlandlord]

You will have to sue your cousin in small claims court. He stole your identity when he forged your signature on that lease. When you get him to own up to this in court, you may be able to either get the debt out of your name (and into his) or get him to pay you for the debt they say you owe. In the meantime, write a dispute letter to the apartment complex and to the credit bureaus to try to save your credit. Let each know that you never signed any lease with this complex and never lived there.

[ljuarez12]

Thank you for the response. Those are the steps I will take.